Gas up, me hearties!

While supposedly a positive article regarding daylight savings time, instead, this AP gem reveals the horrible truth about the system.

“WASHINGTON (AP) — If Congress passes an energy bill, Americans may see more daylight-saving time.

Lawmakers crafting energy legislation approved an amendment Wednesday to extend daylight-saving time by two months, having it start on the first Sunday in March and end on the last Sunday in November.

“Extending daylight-saving time makes sense, especially with skyrocketing energy costs,” said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan, who along with Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, co-sponsored the measure.

The amendment was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee that is putting together major parts of energy legislation likely to come up for a vote in the full House in the coming weeks.

“The more daylight we have, the less electricity we use,” said Markey, who cited Transportation Department estimates that showed the two-month extension would save the equivalent of 10,000 barrels of oil a day.

The country uses about 20 million barrels of oil a day.”

It sucks. And so does Congreff, apparently.

10000/20000000 = .05% reduction in the amount of oil used every day.

That’s a rounding error. Oddly enough, the cost of researching, promoting, lobbying, and enacting this bill will cost millions more than any potential savings.

What is not noted anywhere in the article (and which I uncovered in about 5 seconds of web research) is that the barrel estimates used for both numbers are from 1975.

30 years ago.

I lose, save for the part where I only indirectly participate in petroleum use, by consuming such things as DVDs, cheeseburgers, and electricity.

Wheeee.

That is all.